Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for providing haptic feedback

• US 9,984,539 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2017
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Moussette, Camille, Verweij, Hugo D., Lerner, Mitchell R., Persson, Per Hkan Linus, Malia, Joseph A., Mouilleseaux, Jean-Pierre M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/619,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20170358181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 340540, 3404262, 34042621, 34042622, 34053932, 340566, 340683, 34082549, 340 76, 340 758, 340 759
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls

Abstract

An electronic device detecting an alert event; and, in response, delays provision of feedback indicative of the alert event until determining whether the electronic device is in a first use context or in a second use context. In response to determining whether the electronic device is in the first use context or the second use context, the device, in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the first use context, provides first feedback indicative of the alert event. The device, in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the second use context that is distinct from the first use context, provides second feedback indicative of the alert event.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display, a touch sensitive surface, one or more sensors, and an audio system, and/or one or more tactile output generators;

detecting an alert event; and

in response to detecting the alert event;

delaying provision of feedback indicative of the alert event until determining whether the electronic device is in a first use context or in a second use context that is distinct from the first use context; and

in response to determining whether the electronic device is in the first use context or the second use context;

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the first use context, providing first feedback indicative of the alert event, wherein the first feedback includes a first audio output and/or a first tactile output; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the second use context that is distinct from the first use context, providing second feedback indicative of the alert event, wherein the second feedback includes a second audio output that is distinct from the first audio output and/or a second tactile output that is distinct from the first tactile output.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while providing the second feedback indicative of the alert event, monitoring whether the electronic device has transitioned from the second use context to the first use context; and

in response to determining that the electronic device has transitioned from the second use context to the first use context, transitioning from providing the second feedback to providing the first feedback.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

transitioning from providing the second feedback to providing the first feedback includes;

transitioning from providing the second audio output to providing the first audio output over a first period of time; and

transitioning from providing the second tactile output to providing the first tactile output over a second period of time that is less than the first period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while providing the first feedback indicative of the alarm event;

forgoing monitoring whether the electronic device has transitioned from the first use context to the second use context; and

/or

forgoing transitioning from providing the first feedback to providing the second feedback.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first use context indicates that a user is interacting, or has interacted within a predefined time period, with the electronic device; and

the second use context indicates that the user is not interacting, or has not interacted within the predefined time period, with the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first use context indicates that a face of a user is detected; and

the second use context indicates that a face of a user is not detected.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first audio output has a first volume and the second audio output has a second volume that is greater than the first volume.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the first volume corresponds to a reduction of the second volume by a reduction factor; and

the reduction factor is selected based on a volume property of the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first audio output corresponds to an output obtained by applying a low pass filter to the second audio output.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second audio output includes two or more audio tracks; and

the first audio output includes a subset, less than all, of the two or more audio tracks.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second audio output includes a first audio track at a third volume and a second audio track at a fourth volume; and

the first audio output includes the first audio tracking at the third volume and the second audio track at a fifth volume that is less than the fourth volume.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first audio output corresponds to an output of applying a respective audio filter to the second audio output; and

the respective audio filter is selected based on a type of audio content of the second audio output.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

providing the second feedback indicative of the alert event includes generating the second audio output by outputting an audio alert without applying a first filter or a second filter to the audio alert; and

providing the first feedback indicative of the alert event includes;

in accordance with a determination that an audio alert designated for the alert event is a first type of audio alert, generating the first audio output by applying the first filter to the audio alert of the first type; and

in accordance with a determination that the audio alert designated for the alert event is a second type of audio alert, generating the first audio output by applying the second filter to the audio alert of the second type.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first tactile output has a first amplitude and the second tactile output has a second amplitude that is greater than the first amplitude.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the first tactile output includes a first number of tactile output components;

the second tactile output includes a second number of tactile output components; and

the second number is less than the first number.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second tactile output includes a plurality of tactile output components; and

the first tactile output includes a subset, less than all, of the plurality of tactile output components.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second feedback includes a first vibration output that is generated by repeated oscillations of a tactile output generator at a respective frequency; and

the first feedback includes a sequence of tactile output components in place of the first vibration output, wherein the tactile output components in the sequence of tactile output components correspond to separate activations of a tactile output generator instead of repeated oscillations of a tactile output generator at the respective frequency.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein:

providing the first feedback indicative of the alert event includes transitioning from providing the second feedback to providing third feedback that includes a third audio output and/or a third tactile output, followed by a transition to providing the first feedback; and

a volume of the third audio output is less than a volume of the second audio output and greater than a volume of the first audio output, and/or an amplitude of the third tactile output is less than an amplitude of the second tactile output and greater than an amplitude of the first tactile output.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the alert event corresponds to one of;

a request for playing a ringtone, a request for triggering an alarm, and a request for providing a timer alert.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein delaying provision of feedback indicative of the alert event comprises delaying provision of audio and/or tactile feedback indicative of the alert event without delaying provision of visual feedback until determining whether the electronic device is in a first use context or in a second use context that is distinct from the first use context.

20. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a touch-sensitive surface;

one or more sensors;

an audio system and/or one or more tactile output generators;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

detecting an alert event; and

in response to detecting the alert event;

delaying provision of feedback indicative of the alert event until determining whether the electronic device is in a first use context or in a second use context that is distinct from the first use context; and

in response to determining whether the electronic device is in the first use context or the second use context;

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the first use context, providing first feedback indicative of the alert event, wherein the first feedback includes a first audio output and/or a first tactile output; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the second use context that is distinct from the first use context, providing second feedback indicative of the alert event, wherein the second feedback includes a second audio output that is distinct from the first audio output and/or a second tactile output that is distinct from the first tactile output.

23. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

while providing the second feedback indicative of the alert event, monitoring whether the electronic device has transitioned from the second use context to the first use context; and

in response to determining that the electronic device has transitioned from the second use context to the first use context, transitioning from providing the second feedback to providing the first feedback.

24. The electronic device of claim 23, wherein:

transitioning from providing the second feedback to providing the first feedback includes;

transitioning from providing the second audio output to providing the first audio output over a first period of time; and

transitioning from providing the second tactile output to providing the first tactile output over a second period of time that is less than the first period of time.

25. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

while providing the first feedback indicative of the alarm event;

forgoing monitoring whether the electronic device has transitioned from the first use context to the second use context; and

/or

forgoing transitioning from providing the first feedback to providing the second feedback.

26. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the first use context indicates that a user is interacting, or has interacted within a predefined time period, with the electronic device; and

the second use context indicates that the user is not interacting, or has not interacted within the predefined time period, with the electronic device.

27. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the first use context indicates that a face of a user is detected; and

the second use context indicates that a face of a user is not detected.

28. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the first audio output has a first volume and the second audio output has a second volume that is greater than the first volume.

29. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein:

the first volume corresponds to a reduction of the second volume by a reduction factor; and

the reduction factor is selected based on a volume property of the electronic device.

30. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the first audio output corresponds to an output obtained by applying a low pass filter to the second audio output.

31. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the second audio output includes two or more audio tracks; and

the first audio output includes a subset, less than all, of the two or more audio tracks.

32. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the second audio output includes a first audio track at a third volume and a second audio track at a fourth volume; and

the first audio output includes the first audio tracking at the third volume and the second audio track at a fifth volume that is less than the fourth volume.

33. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the first audio output corresponds to an output of applying a respective audio filter to the second audio output; and

the respective audio filter is selected based on a type of audio content of the second audio output.

34. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

providing the second feedback indicative of the alert event includes generating the second audio output by outputting an audio alert without applying a first filter or a second filter to the audio alert; and

providing the first feedback indicative of the alert event includes;

in accordance with a determination that an audio alert designated for the alert event is a first type of audio alert, generating the first audio output by applying the first filter to the audio alert of the first type; and

in accordance with a determination that the audio alert designated for the alert event is a second type of audio alert, generating the first audio output by applying the second filter to the audio alert of the second type.

35. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the first tactile output has a first amplitude and the second tactile output has a second amplitude that is greater than the first amplitude.

36. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein:

the first tactile output includes a first number of tactile output components;

the second tactile output includes a second number of tactile output components; and

the second number is less than the first number.

37. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the second tactile output includes a plurality of tactile output components; and

the first tactile output includes a subset, less than all, of the plurality of tactile output components.

38. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the second feedback includes a first vibration output that is generated by repeated oscillations of a tactile output generator at a respective frequency; and

the first feedback includes a sequence of tactile output components in place of the first vibration output, wherein the tactile output components in the sequence of tactile output components correspond to separate activations of a tactile output generator instead of repeated oscillations of a tactile output generator at the respective frequency.

39. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

providing the first feedback indicative of the alert event includes transitioning from providing the second feedback to providing third feedback that includes a third audio output and/or a third tactile output, followed by a transition to providing the first feedback; and

a volume of the third audio output is less than a volume of the second audio output and greater than a volume of the first audio output, and/or an amplitude of the third tactile output is less than an amplitude of the second tactile output and greater than an amplitude of the first tactile output.

40. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the alert event corresponds to one of;

a request for playing a ringtone, a request for triggering an alarm, and a request for providing a timer alert.

41. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein delaying provision of feedback indicative of the alert event comprises delaying provision of audio and/or tactile feedback indicative of the alert event without delaying provision of visual feedback until determining whether the electronic device is in a first use context or in a second use context that is distinct from the first use context.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more sensors, and an audio system and/or one or more tactile output generators, cause the device to:

detect an alert event; and

in response to detecting the alert event;

delay provision of feedback indicative of the alert event until determining whether the electronic device is in a first use context or in a second use context that is distinct from the first use context; and

in response to determining whether the electronic device is in the first use context or the second use context;

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the first use context, provide first feedback indicative of the alert event, wherein the first feedback includes a first audio output and/or a first tactile output; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the second use context that is distinct from the first use context, provide second feedback indicative of the alert event, wherein the second feedback includes a second audio output that is distinct from the first audio output and/or a second tactile output that is distinct from the first tactile output.

42. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

while providing the second feedback indicative of the alert event, monitoring whether the electronic device has transitioned from the second use context to the first use context; and

in response to determining that the electronic device has transitioned from the second use context to the first use context, transitioning from providing the second feedback to providing the first feedback.

43. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein:

transitioning from providing the second feedback to providing the first feedback includes;

transitioning from providing the second audio output to providing the first audio output over a first period of time; and

transitioning from providing the second tactile output to providing the first tactile output over a second period of time that is less than the first period of time.

44. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

while providing the first feedback indicative of the alarm event;

forgoing monitoring whether the electronic device has transitioned from the first use context to the second use context; and

/or

forgoing transitioning from providing the first feedback to providing the second feedback.

45. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the first use context indicates that a user is interacting, or has interacted within a predefined time period, with the electronic device; and

the second use context indicates that the user is not interacting, or has not interacted within the predefined time period, with the electronic device.

46. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the first use context indicates that a face of a user is detected; and

the second use context indicates that a face of a user is not detected.

47. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the first audio output has a first volume and the second audio output has a second volume that is greater than the first volume.

48. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein:

the first volume corresponds to a reduction of the second volume by a reduction factor; and

the reduction factor is selected based on a volume property of the electronic device.

49. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the first audio output corresponds to an output obtained by applying a low pass filter to the second audio output.

50. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the second audio output includes two or more audio tracks; and

the first audio output includes a subset, less than all, of the two or more audio tracks.

51. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the second audio output includes a first audio track at a third volume and a second audio track at a fourth volume; and

the first audio output includes the first audio tracking at the third volume and the second audio track at a fifth volume that is less than the fourth volume.

52. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the first audio output corresponds to an output of applying a respective audio filter to the second audio output; and

the respective audio filter is selected based on a type of audio content of the second audio output.

53. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

providing the second feedback indicative of the alert event includes generating the second audio output by outputting an audio alert without applying a first filter or a second filter to the audio alert; and

providing the first feedback indicative of the alert event includes;

in accordance with a determination that an audio alert designated for the alert event is a first type of audio alert, generating the first audio output by applying the first filter to the audio alert of the first type; and

in accordance with a determination that the audio alert designated for the alert event is a second type of audio alert, generating the first audio output by applying the second filter to the audio alert of the second type.

54. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the first tactile output has a first amplitude and the second tactile output has a second amplitude that is greater than the first amplitude.

55. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein:

the first tactile output includes a first number of tactile output components;

the second tactile output includes a second number of tactile output components; and

the second number is less than the first number.

56. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the second tactile output includes a plurality of tactile output components; and

the first tactile output includes a subset, less than all, of the plurality of tactile output components.

57. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the second feedback includes a first vibration output that is generated by repeated oscillations of a tactile output generator at a respective frequency; and

the first feedback includes a sequence of tactile output components in place of the first vibration output, wherein the tactile output components in the sequence of tactile output components correspond to separate activations of a tactile output generator instead of repeated oscillations of a tactile output generator at the respective frequency.

58. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

providing the first feedback indicative of the alert event includes transitioning from providing the second feedback to providing third feedback that includes a third audio output and/or a third tactile output, followed by a transition to providing the first feedback; and

a volume of the third audio output is less than a volume of the second audio output and greater than a volume of the first audio output, and/or an amplitude of the third tactile output is less than an amplitude of the second tactile output and greater than an amplitude of the first tactile output.

59. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

the alert event corresponds to one of;

a request for playing a ringtone, a request for triggering an alarm, and a request for providing a timer alert.

60. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein delaying provision of feedback indicative of the alert event comprises delaying provision of audio and/or tactile feedback indicative of the alert event without delaying provision of visual feedback until determining whether the electronic device is in a first use context or in a second use context that is distinct from the first use context.